A TaqMan qPCR for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

Abstract Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) that can induce diarrhea symptoms in the host, as well as cause disease through contaminated food. To accurately and efficiently identify the five DEC types, this study retrieved the corresponding gene sequences...

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Main Authors: Bingyu Xue, Huanrong Zhang, Xia Yan, Xiaoyan Su, Yuling Zhou, Junjin Xie, Sheng Li, Yang Zhou, Lin Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96960-1
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author Bingyu Xue
Huanrong Zhang
Xia Yan
Xiaoyan Su
Yuling Zhou
Junjin Xie
Sheng Li
Yang Zhou
Lin Li
author_facet Bingyu Xue
Huanrong Zhang
Xia Yan
Xiaoyan Su
Yuling Zhou
Junjin Xie
Sheng Li
Yang Zhou
Lin Li
author_sort Bingyu Xue
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) that can induce diarrhea symptoms in the host, as well as cause disease through contaminated food. To accurately and efficiently identify the five DEC types, this study retrieved the corresponding gene sequences from NCBI based on the virulence genes specified in Chinese national standards: invE, stx1, stx2, sth, stp, lt, aggR, astA, pic, bfpB, and escV. Probes and primers were designed for the conserved regions of these genes, and the amplification system, temperature, and other parameters were optimized. A TaqMan®single-plex real-time PCR assay was established for simultaneous detection of Enteropathogenic E. coli, Enteroinvasive E. coli, Enterotoxigenic E. coli, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, and Enteroaggregative E. coli. The results demonstrated that the minimum detection limit for bacterial genomic DNA was 1.60 × 101 copies/μL (except for stx2 which was 1.60 × 102 copies/μL). The within-group variation rate ranged from 0.12 to 0.88%, while the between-group variation rate ranged from 0.67 to 1.62%. Moreover, R2 values for the standard curve generated by this method were between 0.999 and 1 with an amplification efficiency ranging from 98.4 to 100%. We evaluated a total of 122 clinical specimens using both conventional PCR and the qPCR method developed in this study. The findings indicated that the qPCR method exhibited high accuracy. Therefore, this study successfully developed a Taqman real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay with high specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, and amplification efficiency as well as significant regression effect. This assay can be utilized for clinical detection of DEC.
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spelling doaj-art-6dc1668d4101436eb0b1ac18ec2d0bf02025-08-20T03:10:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-96960-1A TaqMan qPCR for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coliBingyu Xue0Huanrong Zhang1Xia Yan2Xiaoyan Su3Yuling Zhou4Junjin Xie5Sheng Li6Yang Zhou7Lin Li8Key Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine in Universities of Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine in Universities of Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu UniversitySichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingSichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingKey Laboratory of Veterinary Medicine in Universities of Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu UniversitySichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingSichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingSichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingSichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingAbstract Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) that can induce diarrhea symptoms in the host, as well as cause disease through contaminated food. To accurately and efficiently identify the five DEC types, this study retrieved the corresponding gene sequences from NCBI based on the virulence genes specified in Chinese national standards: invE, stx1, stx2, sth, stp, lt, aggR, astA, pic, bfpB, and escV. Probes and primers were designed for the conserved regions of these genes, and the amplification system, temperature, and other parameters were optimized. A TaqMan®single-plex real-time PCR assay was established for simultaneous detection of Enteropathogenic E. coli, Enteroinvasive E. coli, Enterotoxigenic E. coli, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, and Enteroaggregative E. coli. The results demonstrated that the minimum detection limit for bacterial genomic DNA was 1.60 × 101 copies/μL (except for stx2 which was 1.60 × 102 copies/μL). The within-group variation rate ranged from 0.12 to 0.88%, while the between-group variation rate ranged from 0.67 to 1.62%. Moreover, R2 values for the standard curve generated by this method were between 0.999 and 1 with an amplification efficiency ranging from 98.4 to 100%. We evaluated a total of 122 clinical specimens using both conventional PCR and the qPCR method developed in this study. The findings indicated that the qPCR method exhibited high accuracy. Therefore, this study successfully developed a Taqman real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay with high specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, and amplification efficiency as well as significant regression effect. This assay can be utilized for clinical detection of DEC.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96960-1DECqPCRTaqMan probeDetection
spellingShingle Bingyu Xue
Huanrong Zhang
Xia Yan
Xiaoyan Su
Yuling Zhou
Junjin Xie
Sheng Li
Yang Zhou
Lin Li
A TaqMan qPCR for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli
Scientific Reports
DEC
qPCR
TaqMan probe
Detection
title A TaqMan qPCR for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli
title_full A TaqMan qPCR for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli
title_fullStr A TaqMan qPCR for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli
title_full_unstemmed A TaqMan qPCR for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli
title_short A TaqMan qPCR for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli
title_sort taqman qpcr for precise detection and quantification of diarrheagenic escherichia coli
topic DEC
qPCR
TaqMan probe
Detection
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96960-1
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